Sherry by The Four Seasons was the group's first US No. 1.
Vee-Jay released the Bob Gaudio song in August 1962, and it reached the top of the Hot 100 on September 15.
Gaudio says he wrote it in about 15 minutes, and the title changed twice before it stuck.
Table of Contents
- The Story Behind the Song
- How Vee-Jay Got It
- The Record
- How It Charted
- Covers and Screen Moments
- FAQ
The Story Behind Sherry by The Four Seasons
Fifteen Minutes at the Piano
Gaudio's account is that he wrote the song in about 15 minutes, sitting at the piano before a rehearsal.
He had no tape recorder, so he put quick words to the tune to remember it.
He had no plan to keep those lyrics, but the group liked them and left them alone.
Songfacts says Gaudio and arranger Charlie Calello copied the formula of the day.
That meant a big production, a girl's name and a plea for her to come out.
Three Titles Before Sherry
Wikipedia says Gaudio first called it "Jackie Baby" in honor of Jacqueline Kennedy.
In the studio the title became "Terri Baby," then "Sherry."
Wikipedia says the final name came from the daughter of New York DJ Jack Spector, whom it calls Gaudio's best friend.
Songfacts names her Cheri Spector and calls her father a friend of producer Bob Crewe.
We could not confirm which account is right, so treat the friendship detail as disputed.
How Vee-Jay Got It
No Contract, One Song at a Time
Songfacts says the group had no formal contract with Vee-Jay and submitted songs one at a time.
Frankie Valli knew Randy Wood, Vee-Jay's West Coast sales manager, and sent him the demo.
Wood passed it to Los Angeles DJ Dick "Huggy Boy" Hugg, and listeners flooded the station with calls.
Wikipedia adds that Hartford's WPOP put the record into heavy rotation through overnight host Joey Reynolds.
The Record
Two Takes on a Sunday
Gaudio remembers cutting it in "two takes on a Sunday afternoon."
Wikipedia lists a July 1962 recording date, though it gives no source for it.
The album credit read "Four Seasons featuring the Sound of Frankie Valli," which put his falsetto up front.
Hearing It on the Radio
Gaudio has said he first heard it on the radio while driving on the Westside Highway.
He had to pull off the road, since he did not connect it with their record.
A Divisive Falsetto
Stereogum's Tom Breihan notes that Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs had used a similar falsetto on "Stay," which hit No. 1 two years earlier.
He still gave the record 4 out of 10 in his 2018 Number Ones column.
He calls Valli's vocal "urgently grating," though he praises the sharp, springy arrangement.
How It Charted
Five Weeks on Top
The single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 15, 1962.
It held the spot for five weeks, and it also topped the R&B chart for one week.
The B-side was "I've Cried Before," and the album was Sherry & 11 Others.
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | No. 1 (five weeks, from September 15, 1962) |
| Billboard R&B | No. 1 (one week) |
| Canada (CHUM) | No. 1 |
| New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade) | No. 1 |
| Australia | No. 3 |
| UK Singles | No. 8 |
The follow-up, Big Girls Don't Cry, reached No. 1 on November 17.
Wikipedia lists a Silver certification in the UK and a Gold in New Zealand.
Covers and Screen Moments
Honors and Covers
- The Library of Congress added the record to the National Recording Registry in 2023.
- Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention worked it into "Wowie Zowie" on Freak Out! in 1966.
- Robert John's cover entered the Hot 100 at No. 82 on October 25, 1980, and peaked at No. 70.
On Screen
Wikipedia lists the record on the soundtracks of The Wanderers (1979), Stealing Home (1988) and The Help (2011).
It also appears in the stage musical Jersey Boys.
Where It Fits
The single belongs to 1962, the year the group took over the radio.
The full story is in our Four Seasons biography.
For the wider sound, see the Pop and Brill Building hub.
It is also on our best 60s songs list.
FAQ
Who wrote Sherry?
Bob Gaudio wrote it, and Bob Crewe produced the record for Vee-Jay.
When did Sherry reach number one?
It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 15, 1962, and stayed there for five weeks.
It also topped the R&B chart for one week.
Why is the song called Sherry?
Gaudio's early titles were "Jackie Baby" and "Terri Baby."
Wikipedia says the final name came from the daughter of New York DJ Jack Spector, while Songfacts calls Spector a friend of Crewe, so the details differ by source.
What album is Sherry on?
It appears on the album Sherry & 11 Others.
The B-side was "I've Cried Before."
Is Sherry in the Library of Congress?
Yes.
The Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry in 2023.
Wikipedia's entry on the song covers the credits and charts in more depth.
Press play above and hear Sherry by The Four Seasons for yourself.